Surface treatment method and apparatus

ABSTRACT

This is a surface treating device and method of treating surfaces in which a supply of surface treating material is carried in a first package by a handle and a surface treating backing device with means to gradually advance the surface treating material from the first package over the backing device in increments or continuously in such manner that clean, or relatively clean, surface treating material is always being used with soiled or contaminated surface treating material being accumulated and stored within a second package in such manner that the two packages can be removed and replaced simultaneously in order to assure that relatively clean surface treating material will always be used during surface treatment.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] I. Field of the Invention

[0002] This invention is in the general field of surface treatment implements and methods used in janitorial and maintenance services and the like;

[0003] The invention is more directly in the field of surface treatment cloths, brushes, mops, brooms, and the like wherein the cloths, brooms, brushes, mop elements and the like must frequently be changed, cleaned, discarded and the like due to becoming impregnated with contaminates such as dust, dirt, debris and the like;

[0004] The invention is most particularly in the filed of a package of rolled, folded, or the like lengths of surface treatment cloths or the like which are contained in disposable packages, canisters, or the like which may be carried on a treatment base or handle and which may advance or move along a carrier so that fresh surface treatment material is being moved in such manner that when any portion of the surface treatment material becomes too contaminated for proper use that it is advanced, or moved into a portion of the package for temporary storage until the entire package is used and contaminated after which the entire canister or package is disposed of or recycled.

[0005] II. Description of the Prior Art

[0006] There has been much prior art in the fields of surface treatment such as mops, brushes, polishing clothes and the like. Extensive as the prior art in this general field has been, we are unaware of any prior art as to the method and means we have invented wherein there is a constant replacement of the treating material from a disposable package until the entire package is disposed of.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0007] When mopping, dusting, and polishing surfaces such as floors, windows, furniture and the like it is customary to constantly replace or wash mops, cloths, and the like in order to have clean material with which to clean, wash, dry, and polish a surface. The handling of dirt laden cloths, mops, and the like is distasteful, unsanitary, and time consuming.

[0008] We have worked in, and studied, the janitorial and custodial fields at length. We have observed, and participated in mopping, dusting, brushing, waxing, polishing and the like of such surfaces as floors, walls, windows, furniture surfaces, and the like. We have concluded that the most desirable manner for doing this would be to use a fresh cloth, or the like once and then discard it for a new fresh cloth or the like. However, this is not possible economically.

[0009] We have, also, studied the numerous quick change mop heads, brushes, polishing implements, and the like. After evaluating everything available in the industry, in the literature, and in the technical fields such as texts, patents, and the like we have failed to find an economical and effective solution or suggestion for this important problem.

[0010] After much consultation with each other, and much experimentation, we have now conceived and developed a practical, useful, novel, and unique method and apparatus which makes mopping, sweeping, finishing and the like of floors, walls, windows, furniture and the like much more economical, sanitary, and effective.

[0011] We have accomplished this by supplying mopping, sweeping, polishing and the like cloths or material in lengths of material in the form of rolls or multifolds within a canister or other disposable package with means to advance fresh surfaces against a backing tool or the like for use against a surface being cleaned or otherwise treated. While storing the soiled portions until the entire package has been used, at which time the package is replaced with a fresh package and the old package is disposed of or recycled.

[0012] It is an object of this invention to provide a superior surface cleaning and treatment method and apparatus;

[0013] Another object of this invention is to provide a method an apparatus for treating surfaces which is sanitary;

[0014] Another object is to provide such a method which is economical;

[0015] Another object is to provide such a method which is ergonomically desireable.

[0016] The foregoing and other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon reading the description of a preferred embodiment, which follows, in conjunction with a review of the appended drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0017]FIG. 1 is a schematic elevational/perspective view of a device suitable to practice the method of this invention; and

[0018]FIG. 2 is a schematic elevational/perspective view of a cleaning material canister for use with the device of FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0019] An inventory of the items in the drawings with reference numerals is:

[0020] Numeral Item

[0021]10 surface treating device with surface treating package (canister), generally

[0022]11 surface treating material application backing

[0023]12 end plate

[0024]13 surface treating material package

[0025]14 side plate

[0026]15 side plate (not visible)

[0027]16 end plate (not visible)

[0028]17 surface treating material package side

[0029]18 surface treating material package take up reel

[0030]19 take up reel handle

[0031]20 surface treating material package fresh supply reel

[0032]21 slot in end plate

[0033]22 surface treating material

[0034]23 surface treating device handle

[0035]24 hollow polygon

[0036]25 bottom closure plate (not visible)

[0037]26 slot in top

[0038]27 canister bottom (not visible)

[0039]28 canister end

[0040]29 slot in top

[0041]30 canister side (not visible)

[0042]31 canister end (not visible)

[0043]32 canister top

[0044] The surface treating material package, or canister, 13 is shown in place within the polygon in FIG. 1. FIG. 2 shows the surface treating package detached from the polygon.

[0045]FIG. 1 shows the most elemental form of a device suitable to practice the methods of our new surface treating method. The device 10 comprises a hollow polygon or the like 24 formed of a top which may be a semi-rigid backing 11 for the surface treating material 22 which may be a long strip of cloth or specially treated material such as glass cleaning material as will be understood by those skilled in the art; end plates 12 and 16; side plates 14 and 16; and bottom closure plate 25 (end plate 16, side plate 15, and bottom closure plate 25 are not visible as will be understood by those skilled in the art). A handle 23 or the like will be attached to the device by means such as bolts, screws, adhesive, or the like (not shown, but known to those skilled in the art.

[0046]FIG. 2 shows the disposable (or recyclable) canister or package of surface treating material 22. The canister or package 13 comprises ends 28 and 31; sides 17 and 30; bottom 27; and top 32 (end 31, side 30, and bottom 27 are not visible, but will be understood by those skilled in the art). Slot 29 is provided for the surface treating material 22 to pass through and to further pass through slot 21 and over the backing 11. Slot 26 is provided for the used surface treating material to pass into the canister to be taken up on reel 18 by turning the reel with the handle 19.

[0047] In use, a new canister or package 13 will be inserted into the device 10 and the cleaning material will be threaded through the slots 21 and 29, over the backing 11, through a slot in end 16 (not visible), through slot 26, and onto take up reel 18 by means known to those skilled in the art. The device will be then passed over the surface to be treated with the material 22 in contact with the surface. When the material 22 over the backing 11 becomes soiled the handle 19 will be used to advance the treating material 22 so as to expose a fresh portion to treat the surface concerned.

[0048] It is to be understood that there are many refinements which may be made to this basic concept without deviating from the inventive concepts disclosed.

[0049] This disclosure is augmented by the claims which follow which are incorporated herein by this reference.

[0050] In the claims which follow if we fail to claim a patentable feature which is revealed in this application, such failure to claim will be due to inadvertence and does not indicate any desire to abandon or dedicate such feature. In such event, upon discovering such omission we shall seek to correct it by reissue, continuing application, or other appropriate means.

[0051] While the embodiments of this invention shown and described are fully capable of achieving the objects and advantages desired, it is to be understood that such embodiments are shown for purposes of illustration only and not for purposes of limitation. 

We claim:
 1. A surface treatment apparatus comprising: a handle; a treatment material backing device in cooperative relationship with said handle; a supply of surface treating material contained within a package cooperatively mounted with relation to said handle; means to advance surface treating material from said supply across said backing device; and means to receive used surface treating material.
 2. The method of treating surfaces comprising: placing a replaceable package of surface treating material into a surface treating device; causing a quantity of surface treating material to be passed over a surface being treated; and causing the quantity of surface treating which has been passed over the surface to be returned to the replaceable package while simultaneously causing a fresh quantity of surface treating material to be passed over the surface being treated. 